Fig. 2

RΦGT mice express TVA independent of Cre protein presence. (A) Schematic illustration of the brain regions with observed traced cells. Traced cells were found in the cortex by the injection site (arrow) at bregma 0.8, as well as in the thalamus (red) and substantia innominata (green) at bregma − 1.06. Letters refer to the location from which the micrographs in the figure are imaged. (B-E) Micrographs from Chrna2Cre-RΦGT mice injected with a Cre-dependent EYFP expressing adeno-associated viral vector serotype 2 (AAV2) and a mCherry expressing modified G-protein deleted EnvA coated rabies virus (RVdG-EnvA). Arrow points at the injection site, lines mark the upper and lower borders of the cortex. There were EYFP positive cells (B) and mCherry positive wells by the injection site (C), as well as mCherry positive cells in thalamus (D) and substantia innominata (E). (F-I) Micrographs from RΦGT mice injected with AAV2 and RVdG-EnvA. Arrow points at the injection site, lines mark the upper and lower borders of the cortex. There were no EYFP positive cells (F) at the injection site. However, mCherry positive cells were found by the injection site (G) as well as in the thalamus (H) and substantia innominata (I). (J-L) Micrographs from RΦGT mice injected with RVdG-EnvA. Arrow points at the injection site, lines mark the upper and lower borders of the cortex. There were mCherry positive cells by the injection site (J) as well as in the thalamus (K) and substantia innominata (L). (M-N) Micrographs of the cortex of wild type (M) and Chrna2Cre (N) mice injected with RVdG-EnvA. Arrow points at the injection site, lines mark the upper and lower borders of the cortex. No traced cells were observed. Scale bars: 100 μm in D and H, 200 μm in B-C and E-N